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Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Glory of War

Taken in front of the little white cottage. He is about ten, I think. His big catch is a lake trout, I think.

You gave seen photos of him before on this blog: one with the Vimy memorial in the background when he was a member of the honour guard to bring home our Unknown Soldier. His great-grandfather served in those killing fields in WWI. One taken on the parapet of a palace in Kabul. One on his wedding day with the beautiful girl he married.

My son will serve outremer again this year.

I have always maintained that there is a glory in war.

But the glory for me lies not in the combat and clash of armies and men, but in the conscious decision of those who are willing to stand between a rapacious enemy and the innocent and the helpless.

Those who, like policemen and firemen, are willing, if need be, to lay their bodies down.

Those who are willing to do hard things so that the rest of us can live our lives with a conscience clear and untroubled.

And that is a glory of human spirit and sacrifice that too many do not comprehend. And no greater love.

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D&D News:

STRiCTLY ANTiSOCiAL gave Dark and Disorderlya score of 9.5 out of 10.

She said so many nice things like, "I believe this is the first book I have really really really enjoyed in quite a while," that I'll just post a link.

The amazing thing is that while in fairness she mentions some aspects of the story another reader might not like, she asserts these points do not matter to her.

And another at I READ GOOD, with words like"hooked, gripping, amazing, fantastic!"

Of course, one hopes one's book will be well-received, but to repeat a line I stole from somewhere, my gast is totally flabbered.

Two more I didn't disappoint. My sense of gratitude is like a pail of water so full it slops over! ( I've been trying to house clean my office, so you know where that commonplace image comes from!)

Oh, Barbara! Won't happen, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts!I have the sequel begun but this back thingy has seriously impeded progress.

LW, you are the dearest guy to promote D&D like this!Thank you so much!The office hasn't been touched for at least two years ( much like most of the rest of the house) so it desperately needed it--back be damned. I'll pay for it of course, but such a relief to have most things semi-organized and clean.

I'm more anxious this time, Raine, I have to confess...to the well for water type of thing.

My jaw, it is permanently dislocated over these first reviews!

More like luck, Lana, but thank you!

Charles, a funny thing: when I was drafting D&D there were certain passages that I thought "well, Charles might like that," and others for other people here. I just realized that now. In fact, all of you were in some ways, shadow critics during composition!